The Witcher 3 Remastered’s Free Upgrade Has One Major Catch

Riding back into Velen with Geralt has always meant accepting some rough edges beneath the game’s unmatched quest work. CD Projekt Red’s new remaster matters because it is not asking established players to buy that return trip again: it refreshes the 2015 RPG while also dramatically changing what base-game ownership includes.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Remastered arrives on September 29, 2026 for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch 2. On GOG, Steam, Epic Games Store, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, owners of the original game receive the upgrade free. More importantly, base-game owners who never bought Hearts of Stone or Blood and Wine will receive both expansions at no extra cost. Xbox One base-game owners are also set to receive the DLC digitally, with disc owners able to claim it through the Store.

The refresh goes beyond higher-resolution scenery. CD Projekt Red has flagged upgraded visuals, advanced path tracing on supported hardware, enhanced combat and targeting, improved movement and traversal, revised mount handling, new finishers, transmogrification, a reworked skill and ability progression system, cross-platform mod support and an expanded Photo Mode. PS5 Pro support and Xbox Play Anywhere are also part of the rollout. Exact performance targets and the precise effect of the progression overhaul on existing builds have not been detailed.

Switch 2 is the ownership wrinkle. It gets a native version, but its entitlement route is less straightforward than the free digital upgrades on other platforms. Physical Switch owners will receive the native Switch 2 version free; buyers should check their specific digital storefront entitlement before assuming the same treatment.

September’s upgrade is not the new story content. Songs of the Past is a separate paid expansion due in 2027, taking Geralt to the region of Letten and adding a chain weapon with new combat options. Its quest count, map scale and build rewards remain under wraps.

The verdict: claim the remaster if you already own The Witcher 3; getting two landmark expansions alongside the overhaul makes this a stronger return than a routine visual patch, while Songs of the Past is the real next chapter to watch.